How to Edit Subtitles in NextClip
What Are Subtitles?
Subtitles (also called captions) are the text that appears on your video showing what you're saying. They help:
- People watch without sound (on the bus, at work, in bed)
- Non-native speakers understand your content better
- Viewers stay engaged and watch longer
- Your videos rank better on social media algorithms
The best part? NextClip automatically generates subtitles from your video—no typing required!
Getting Started with Subtitles
Step 1: Go to the Subtitles Tab
- Click on "Subtitles" in the top navigation bar
- Your video's subtitles are automatically generated
- Each subtitle group appears in a separate box with timing information
Step 2: Understanding Subtitle Groups
Each subtitle group shows:
- The text - What words appear in that caption
- Start time - When the caption appears (e.g., 0.2 seconds)
- End time - When the caption disappears (e.g., 1.0 seconds)
- Control icons - Tools to edit, merge, split, or hide captions
Editing Subtitle Text ✏️
Best for: Fixing mistakes or changing what your captions say
How to Edit Subtitle Text:
Step 1: Find the subtitle you want to change
- Scroll through your subtitle groups
- Find the text you want to edit
Step 2: Click on the subtitle text
- Click directly on the words inside any subtitle box
- The text becomes editable (you'll see a cursor)
Step 3: Make your changes
- Delete, add, or change any words
- Fix spelling or grammar mistakes
- Your changes are saved automatically
Merging Subtitle Groups 🔗
Best for: Combining two separate captions into one longer caption
Sometimes you want multiple words to appear together on screen. Merging combines two subtitle groups into one.
How to Merge Subtitles:
Step 1: Find the two groups you want to merge
- Look at adjacent subtitle groups
- Decide which ones should be combined
Step 2: Click the merge icon
- Look for the merge button between subtitle groups
- It's usually purple colored
- Click it once
Step 3: Watch them combine
- The two groups become one
- All words now appear on screen at the same time
- Timing adjusts automatically
💡 Tip: Merge groups to create complete sentences or phrases that make sense together.
How to Add Emojis:
Step 1: Find the subtitle where you want to add an emoji
- Scroll through your subtitle groups
- Locate the caption that needs emphasis or personality
Step 2: Click the smile icon
- Look for the smile icon (😊) on the right side of the subtitle group
- It appears next to the other control icons (eye, arrows, etc.)
- Click it once to open the emoji picker
Step 3: Choose your emoji
- Browse through emoji categories (faces, objects, symbols, etc.)
- Click on any emoji to select it
- You can search for specific emojis using keywords
- Play your video to see how the emoji looks
Splitting Subtitle Groups ✂️
Best for: Breaking up long captions or adjusting word timing
Split captions to move words between groups for better pacing and readability.
Moving Words to the Previous Group (Up Icon ⬆️):
Step 1: Find the subtitle group
- Locate the group with words you want to move up
Step 2: Click the up arrow icon
- Look for the up arrow icon (⬆️) on the right side
- This moves the first word of the current group to the previous group
[IMAGE: Screenshot showing the up arrow icon on a subtitle group]
Step 3: Repeat if needed
- Click multiple times to move more words up
- Each click moves one word
💡 Example: "We work on videos" → Click up arrow on "videos" → Previous group now shows "We work on" and "videos" moves up.
Moving Words to the Next Group (Down Icon ⬇️):
Step 1: Find the subtitle group
- Locate the group with words you want to move down
Step 2: Click the down arrow icon
- Look for the down arrow icon (⬇️) on the right side
- This moves the last word of the current group to the next group
Step 3: Watch the word move
- The last word jumps to the next subtitle group
- It now appears on screen later with the next caption
- Timing adjusts automatically
Step 4: Repeat if needed
- Click multiple times to move more words down
- Each click moves one word
💡 Example: "probably three to four" → Click down arrow → "four" moves to the next group, current group shows "probably three to"
Hiding and Showing Subtitles 👁️
Best for: Removing captions from specific moments in your video
Sometimes you don't want subtitles to appear at certain moments (like during music breaks or visual-only sections).
How to Hide a Subtitle:
Step 1: Find the subtitle you want to hide
- Scroll to the subtitle group that shouldn't appear
Step 2: Click the eye icon
- Look for the eye icon (👁️) on the right side of the subtitle group
- Click it once
Step 3: Subtitle is now hidden
- The subtitle won't appear in your video at that moment
- The subtitle group might appear dimmed or crossed out
- Audio still plays—only the caption is hidden
How to Show a Hidden Subtitle:
Step 1: Find the hidden subtitle
- Look for dimmed or crossed-out subtitle groups
Step 2: Click the eye icon again
- Click the same eye icon
- The subtitle becomes visible again
💡 Tip: Hide subtitles during music-only sections, intros, or when B-roll takes center stage.
Quick Tips for Perfect Subtitles
✅ Keep captions short - 1-3 lines per caption is ideal for readability
✅ Use punctuation - Helps viewers understand your message clearly
✅ Break at natural pauses - Split captions where you naturally pause while speaking
✅ Add emojis strategically - Use them to emphasize key points, not on every caption 🎯
✅ Check spelling - Edit any auto-generated mistakes
✅ Match your brand - Use colors and fonts that fit your style
✅ High contrast - Make sure text is easy to read against your video background
✅ Preview before exporting - Watch your full video to check subtitle timing
✅ Hide when needed - Remove captions during visual-only moments
Common Questions
Q: Are subtitles automatically generated?
A: Yes! NextClip transcribes your video automatically. You just need to review and adjust.
Q: Can I change subtitle styles for just one caption?
A: Styling applies to all captions. For consistency, it's best to use the same style throughout.
Q: What if the auto-generated text is wrong?
A: Just click the text and edit it! You have full control to fix any mistakes.
Q: How do I know if my subtitles are timed correctly?
A: Play your video and watch if the captions match when you speak those words. Adjust timing by moving words up or down.
Q: Do subtitles affect video quality or file size?
A: Subtitles are rendered into your video, so they don't increase file size significantly.
What's Next?
Now that your subtitles are perfect, keep enhancing your video:
👉 Add Visuals - Insert B-roll and graphics to make your video more engaging
👉 Add Background Music - Set the perfect mood for your content
👉 Export Your Video - Share your masterpiece with the world
Need Help?
If you get stuck or have questions, contact our support team—we're here to help!
Happy captioning! 🎬✨
Written by NextClip Team
We build AI tools that help creators repurpose long-form video into short-form content and Edit talking videos. Our blog covers video creation strategy, social growth, and AI editing.
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